Can Armenia use the UN court ruling on Kosovo as a trump card in talks on Karabakh if it does not recognize Kosovo's independence? This question has been raised by Armenian journalist Akop Badalyan, writing on the Lragir website.
"If you plan to use the resolution on Kosovo as a trump card on the Karabakh issue, you need to be able to say why you haven't recognized it. How can Armenia answer this question? With silence or through preparations for recognition?" Badalyan wrote.
"Or will Armenia wait for permission from Russia whose opinion on Kosovo is clear. The Russians do not recognize Kosovo, though it is unclear why, since they have recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia. State interest is clearly playing its role here."
"What is Armenia's interest? The decision of the International Court on Kosovo opens wide opportunities for Armenian foreign policy initiatives, which are not linked to the state of Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, where the main role is played by the ambitions of 'newsmakers' - articles, photographs, interviews. Kosovo has opened the field for practical, applied action by Armenia. Is Armenian diplomacy ready to use this field, where it's not photographers and journalists that are waiting for it, but hard work which should aim not only at the recognition of Kosovo but at amassing arguments for the recognition of Karabakh?" Badalyan continued.
"What will be the cornerstone - the interest of Armenia or Russia? Though if Armenia's state interest is not to anger Russia, then all questions are off the table.
"Nevertheless, is Armenia ready to work or will it make merry for seven days and seven nights until the next opportunity?
"In any case, after the wave of euphoria that swept Armenia, it is difficult to explain to whomever is interested that refusal to recognize Kosovo arises out of Armenia's interests and that it is premature. It is not a matter of an act of recognition but of preparing for one. If recognition is premature, why the euphoria?"
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